Building a Pearl 2

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#1,903
McQuaide said:
I hear the same results from mine. There is also more HF "edge" to the sound, so I think there is a tradeoff. It may just be more of the natural sound of the cartridge and phono pre getting through. I find myself turning it down a bit more, but damn I'm re-playing my best sounding albums and hearing new things.
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The HF "edge" without output coupling caps was bothering me, so yesterday I put them back in. While it does sound great I find the caps blunt the top-end and add some congestion. I think I need to add sockets and a bypass switch, but I don't know if I want to go down the rabbit hole of different cap sounds. Currently using a Silmic 2 bypassed with a film.
 
#1,910
I’ve been enjoying my pearl 2 over the last couple days and it is sounding better the longer it burns in.

Has anyone experimented with adding EMI copper shielding under the top cover of the power supply to eliminate transformer hum with the Pearl 2 chassis?

I am lucky to be able to have the power supply chasis on top of the phono chassis and not have any added noise.
 
#1,912
Power supplies at the far end of an umbilical -- with good local on-board regulation -- just make sense.

That said, I wonder about transformer type and case material. These PSUs need to be good neighbours too.

My inclination would be to follow Gary Galo's (admittedly ancient) advice from Audio Amateur 4/95 about split-bobbin transformers over toroids.

As well I kinda like the cast alloy boxes by Hammond (1590 series).

Has anyone had experience (good or bad) with these?
 
#1,914
#1,917
OK, I saw a couple of those but I guess I was looking for the bolt-on type package. Just one of those thinks I haven’t worked with. My previous projects are two ACAs (newest version) and a BZLS that really challenged my limited knowledge. So thanks to all. I just ordered some of the smallest capacitors from Parts Connexion or I’d buy one of the ones mhenschel mentioned. I’ll go with the 2 amp device, since I read that the regulators on the PCBs want at least 1.5 amps to kick in.

This project was an adventure in film caps for me. I figured a phono stage and that tiny signal justified looking for good parts. Staggered at some prices. I had watched Paul McGowan at PS Audio say they use Rel-Caps. But then I added up the cost, such as the .1uF when you need 22 of them. I had seen that Pass liked Elna Silmics so went with those for several values. Thanks again to all for the help.
 
#1,919
Boards are here and parts arriving. There are a few things I’d like get settled at the start. First, I will be using MM cartridges for the foreseeable future, likely in the Ortofon 2M line, so that means 5.5 mv output. What does that indicate for my resistors?

Second, what’s a good umbilical for the PS? It sounds like a pair of XLR or similar connectors on the back panels is good, but then I need XLR plugs for the cable, and what’s good for the cable and shielding?

Finally, I’d like a low-profile look and would like to wire in the 10000uF caps on their sides. Any problem there? It looks like the PCB has room to do that. If so, any particular gauge wire to make the connection to the PCB?

Thanks as always. Looking forward to getting started.
Jim
 
#1,920
jfuquay said:
Boards are here and parts arriving. There are a few things I’d like get settled at the start. First, I will be using MM cartridges for the foreseeable future, likely in the Ortofon 2M line, so that means 5.5 mv output. What does that indicate for my resistors?

Second, what’s a good umbilical for the PS? It sounds like a pair of XLR or similar connectors on the back panels is good, but then I need XLR plugs for the cable, and what’s good for the cable and shielding?

Finally, I’d like a low-profile look and would like to wire in the 10000uF caps on their sides. Any problem there? It looks like the PCB has room to do that. If so, any particular gauge wire to make the connection to the PCB?

Thanks as always. Looking forward to getting started.
Jim
Click to expand...

1000 ohms on R14, 47K on the input for MM. I used 3 pin XLR connectors and Belden microphone cable for the umbilical. Wire gauge is not critical, use what you have.
 
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